Wig making needle

ABSTRACT

A vertically reciprocatable needle ( 41 ) that is extremely fine in its lengthwise direction, having a leading end portion of a triangular pyramidal shape. Edges ( 41   b ) are formed on a periphery of the leading end portion, and an engaging portion ( 41   c ) is formed at a base thereof. The engaging portion comprises a recess ( 41   d ) and a tongue ( 41   e ) covering the recess. Below the engaging portion, a tapered guide surface ( 41   f ) continues straight from a point on a periphery of the needle to the recess. The recess is recessed in a needle axial direction. The tongue has a diameter smaller than the maximum diameter of the guide surface. The artificial hair may be surely hooked by the engaging portion during vertical movement of the needle, which assures relative movement of the needle at a pitch or width of high accuracy. Accordingly, it becomes possible that the transplanting pitch of the artificial hair is controlled with high accuracy.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates to automation of wig manufacturing andmore particularly to a needle for manufacturing a wig to be used in anautomated hair-transplanting apparatus for manufacturing a wig.

BACKGROUND

A wig has been manufactured in such a manner that a hair segment to betransplanted is folded in two, which is one by one transplanted onto athree-dimensional thick base by handwork. When one folded hair segmentis transplanted on the base, it looks as if two hairs are transplanted.Several folded hair segments may be transplanted at one time.

However, such a prior art handwork is extremely inefficient. It wouldtake two or three weeks or more to transplant 20,000 hairs, for example.When a wig is manufactured in foreign countries in order to save laborcosts, it tends to increase inferior products and reduce a productionyield.

Some attempts have been made to develop automated wig manufacturingsystems, but no success has been achieved.

According to the study by the present inventor, the greatest difficultyin automation of wig manufacturing exists in providing high-precisiontransplanting pitch. Human hairs are, in their natural condition, spacedfrom each other by less than 1 mm, or normally of the order of 0.5 mm,so that it will be desired to determine the transplanting pitch as such.

However, it is quite difficult, like a divine work, to operate anextremely thin needle at a pitch of lower than 1 mm along apredetermined line. When the needle should be wobbling even a little,the needle holes are connected with each other to form a continuousslit, thereby making it impossible to transplant hair segments onto abase.

More importantly, when the needle is to penetrate the base, it pushesthe base, so that the needle would move and wobble.

If the needle should wobble, the hair segment cannot surely be hooked bythe needle.

After repeated trial and error in development of automated wigmanufacturing apparatus which is the first in the world, the presentinventor has reached a conclusion that a keyword is an issue of theneedle wobbling.

The present invention has been made in view of the above-describedbackground, with the object to surely hook the hair segment with theneedle in automated wig manufacturing. Another object is to control thetransplanting pitch of the hair segment with great accuracy. Stillanother object is to reduce a percentage of production of defectivearticles when automatically manufacturing wigs.

DISCLOSURE OF INVENTION

To achieve the above-described object, an automated hair-transplantingapparatus for manufacturing a wig in accordance with the presentinvention comprises a needle that is extremely fine in its lengthwisedirection, said needle having a pick-shaped leading end portion providedwith edge(s) on a periphery thereof and with an engaging portion at abase thereof. By such construction, when the needle is to penetrate thebase, it will smoothly go through the base while not imparting a pushingforce to the base, thereby preventing the needle wobbling and assuringthe hooking of the hair segment. Further, relative movement of theneedle may be achieved at a pitch or width of high accuracy.Accordingly, it becomes possible that the transplanting pitch of thehair segment in automated wig manufacturing is controlled with highaccuracy to be as equal to the human hair spacing in the naturalcondition, for example, thereby reducing a percentage of production ofdefective articles in automated wig manufacturing.

In the wig-manufacturing needle according to the present invention, theengaging portion preferably comprises a recess and a tongue covering therecess. The recess is recessed preferably in an axial direction of theneedle.

Preferably, there is a tapered guide surface extending from the engagingportion toward another end opposite to the leading end portion. Theguide surface continues straight from a point on a periphery of theneedle toward the recess. The tongue has a diameter preferably smallerthan the maximum diameter of the guide surface.

Preferably, one of the needle and the base is vertically movable withrespect to the other.

The leading end portion of the needle is preferably shaped like apolyangular pyramid such as a triangular pyramid or a cone. The numberof the edges is preferably one or more, for example three. Therespective edges are preferably equally spaced with each other. The edgeis preferably a straight extending one or a screw-like one.

The needle preferably comprises a pair of needles. The needle issupported preferably at two points. The needle is preferably positionedbelow a base supplied to the automated hair-transplanting apparatus forwig manufacturing, wherein the needle cooperates with a head mountedjust above the needle to constitute a hair-transplanting unit of theautomated hair-transplanting apparatus for wig manufacturing.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 shows an embodiment of a needle for manufacturing a wig inaccordance with the present invention, wherein FIG. 1(A) is a frontview, FIG. 1(B) is an enlarged view showing a leading end portion, FIG.1(C) is a left side view of FIG. 1(B), FIG. 1(D) is an enlarged planview of FIG. 1(B), FIG. 1(E) is an enlarged cross-section taken alongE-E in FIG. 1(B), and FIG. 1(F) is an enlarged cross-section taken alongF-F in FIG. 1(B).

FIG. 2 is a general view showing an embodiment wherein thewig-manufacturing needle is applied to an automated hair-transplantingapparatus for wig manufacturing, which also diagrammatically shows aprocess flow.

FIG. 3 is a diagrammatic front view showing an example of a base supplyunit of the automated hair-transplanting apparatus for wig manufacturingshown in FIG. 2.

FIG. 4 shows an example of tensioning/positioning unit of the automatedhair-transplanting apparatus for wig manufacturing shown in FIG. 2,wherein FIG. 2(A) is a general plan view, FIG. 2(B) is a general frontview and FIG. 2(C) is a general plan view showing a main part.

FIG. 5 is a general perspective view showing an example of a hair colorselecting and cutting unit that is a part of a hair-segment supplyingunit of the automated hair-transplanting apparatus for wig manufacturingshown in FIG. 2.

FIG. 6 is a front view showing an example of a hair-transplanting unitof the automated hair-transplanting apparatus for wig manufacturingshown in FIG. 2.

FIG. 7(A) is a side view of FIG. 6, FIG. 7(B) is an enlarged viewshowing a part thereof when presser means is opened, and FIG. 7(C) is anenlarged view showing the same part when presser means is closed.

FIG. 8 is a diagrammatic perspective view showing relationship between ahead unit and a conveyor table of the automated hair-transplantingapparatus for wig manufacturing shown in FIG. 2.

FIG. 9 is a diagrammatic side view showing an example of a blowing unitof the automated hair-transplanting apparatus for wig manufacturingshown in FIG. 2, wherein FIG. 9(A) shows the condition immediately afterthe hair segments have been transplanted, whereas FIG. 9(B) shows thecondition wherein the hair segments have been blown toward the base.

FIGS. 10(A) through 10(D) are (diagrammatic side) view explaining themanner of applying tension to the base.

FIGS. 11(A) through 11(D) are diagrammatic front view showing the hairsegment supplying process in accordance with the automatedhair-transplanting apparatus for wig manufacturing shown in FIG. 2.

FIG. 12 shows the step of needle elevation when the needle is applied tothe automated hair-transplanting apparatus for wig manufacturing shownin FIG. 2, wherein FIG. 12(A) is a diagrammatic front view thereof andFIG. 12(B) is a diagrammatic left side view thereof.

FIG. 13 is a view showing the step of needle descent, when the needle isapplied to the automated hair-transplanting apparatus for wigmanufacturing shown in FIG. 2, wherein FIG. 13(A) is a diagrammaticfront view thereof and FIG. 13(B) is a diagrammatic left side viewthereof.

FIG. 14 is a view showing the condition where the hair segments havebeen transplanted onto the base.

FIG. 15 is a (diagrammatic plan) view explaining the process succeedingthe hair-transplanting process.

FIG. 16 shows an example of an electromagnetic valve for use in theautomated hair-transplanting apparatus for wig manufacturing shown inFIG. 2, wherein FIG. 16(A) is a diagrammatic perspective view thereofand FIG. 16(B) is a circuit diagram.

FIG. 17(A) is a plan view showing another embodiment of the needle forwig manufacturing according to the present invention and FIG. 17(B) is afront view of FIG. 17(A).

FIG. 18 is a plan view showing still another embodiment of the needlefor wig manufacturing according to the present invention.

MOST PREFERABLE EMBODIMENTS OF INVENTION

Next, a wig-manufacturing needle according to the present invention willbe described in more detail in reference to the accompanying drawingsshowing embodiments thereof. For the sake of convenience, elements orparts having the same function are indicated by the same referencenumerals and explanation thereof will be omitted.

FIG. 1 shows an embodiment of a wig-manufacturing needle according tothe present invention. Needle 41 is formed to be extremely thin in itslengthwise direction. A diameter W of needle 41 generally corresponds tospacing between human hairs in natural condition, which is for exampleless than 0.5 mm. Needle 41 has a leading end portion 41 a shapedsubstantially into an equilaterally triangular pyramid. There are edgesor knives 41 b on a periphery of leading end portion 41 a. Each edge 41b extends straight, and there is an equal spacing between edges 41 b.Just below leading end portion 41 a, there is an engaging portion 41 c.Engaging portion 41 c comprises a recess 41 d recessed in an axialdirection and a tongue 41 e covering recess 41 d. Tongue 41 e issubstantially semi-circular and mounted in opposition to one edge 41 b(edge 41 b underlined in FIG. 1(B) and FIG. 1(D)). Below engagingportion 41 c is provided a tapered guide surface 41 f. Guide surface 41f continues and extends from a point on the periphery of needle 41 torecess 41 d. As shown in FIG. 1(D), tongue 41 e has a smaller diameterthan the maximum diameter of guide face 41 f. Guide surface 41 f isgently tapered. In this embodiment, guide surface 41 f is approximately2.5 times longer than leading end portion 41 a.

Needle 41 of the above-construction is made from hard metal, forexample.

Wig-manufacturing needle 41 according to the present invention is usedas a member mounted to an automated hair-transplanting apparatus for wigmanufacturing. Next, wig-manufacturing needle 41 according to thepresent invention will be described in detail, wherein it is applied tothe automated hair-transplanting apparatus for wig manufacturing shownby way of example in FIG. 2 and the followings.

FIG. 2 is a general view diagrammatically showing the automatedhair-transplanting apparatus for wig manufacturing, along with theoperation process. A base supply unit 1 supplies a base 11 to atensioning/positioning unit 2 in a horizontal orientation. Base 11 is asheet made from polyurethane, for example, which is very thin havingthickness of 0.06 mm, for example. It is reeled around a sheet roller13. Sheet roller 13 is driven by a motor 15, shown in FIG. 3, to supplythe reeled base 11 therefrom onto a conveyor table 21. A referencenumeral 17 indicates a sheet roller stopper.

FIG. 4 shows the tensioning/positioning unit 2. Tensioning/positioningunit 2 has conveyor table 21 movable on a two-dimensional plane indirections perpendicular to each other, that is, along X- and Y-axes.Conveyor table 21 is moved along X- and Y-axes over predetermined travelpitch of the order of 1 mm, for example, by an X-axis drive motor (notshown) and a Y-axis drive motor (not shown), respectively, in apredetermined order. By this, base 11 becomes stretched and ispositioned in a predetermined position. More particularly, there aretensioners 23 at four corners on conveyor table 21 for tensioning thesupplied base 11. Each tensioner 23 comprises a pair of opposed tensionnip rollers 24, 25 for pressing and clamping base 11 from up and down,and tensioning motors 26 (26 a, 26 b, 26 c, 26 d) that may be rotated inforward and reverse directions to drive rollers 24, 25. A referencenumeral 27 indicates upper and lower sheet feeding rollers arranged at asupply side of tensioning/positioning unit 2, which are driven by amotor 27 a, shown in FIG. 15, to rotate in one predetermined directionfor feeding base 11 onto conveyor table 21. A reference numeral 28indicates upper and lower sheet discharging rollers arranged at adischarge side of tensioning/positioning unit 2, which is rotatable inforward and reverse directions by a motor 28 a shown in FIG. 15. Areference numeral 29 indicates a sheet slack sensor mounted at thesupply side of tensioning/positioning unit 2, upstream of sheet feedingrollers 27, for detecting a slack of the supplied base 11.

An artificial hair supplying unit 3 shown in FIG. 5, including bobbins31A, 31B, 31C and 31D (which may be hereinlater referred to by a bobbinwith a generic numeral 31), supplies an artificial hair 30 onto theupper surface of base 11. A thread (artificial hair 30) of a differentcolor is reeled around each bobbin 31, which may be unreeled from thebobbin over a predetermined length by an unreeling motor 31AM, 31BM, 31CM, 31DM. The unreeled thread is fed by actuating a vacuum generator 32a, 32 b, 32 c, 32 d (which may be heinlater referred to by a vacuumgenerator with a generic numeral 32) and a single vacuum generator 33,shown in FIG. 2. Each bobbin system 31 has a conduit 35 a, 35 b, 35 c,35 d that forms a travel path, and artificial hairs 30 are suppliedthrough conduit 35 a, 35 b, 35 c, 35 d and a conduit 35 to ahair-transplanting unit 4. As shown In FIG. 5, in the middle of eachtravel path, there is a movable cutter 34 driven by a cutter motor 34 afor cutting the respective artificial hairs 30 after they are unreeledover a predetermined length by unreeling motors 31AM, 31BM, 31CM, 31DM.Between conduit 35 and conduits 35 a, 35 b, 35 c, 35 d are formed gap G1that allows cutter 34 to pass therethrough. Artificial hair 30 maycomprise, for example, polyester, acrylic or other chemical fiber thathas been subjected to special treatment for use as an artificial hair.The respective artificial hairs 30 are supplied through conduit 35.

FIG. 6 through FIG. 8 show hair-transplant unit 4. Hair-transplant unit4 comprises the aforementioned needle 41 arranged below base 11 and ahead 42 arranged above base 11 and just above needle 41. Needle 41comprises two needles 41 a, 41 b mounted to a vertically reciprocatableneedle holder 41 g, 41 h with a predetermined gap of 1 mm, for example,between the needle centers. Needle 41 is supported at two points byupper and lower needle holders 41 g, 41 h, which reciprocates up anddown by moving needle holders 41 g, 41 h in up and down directions. Thehead 42 is provided with a movable guide 43 in the form of a pipedetachably connected to an artificial hair supplying nozzle 37 attachedto the leading end of conduit 35, and press means 44, 45 that may beopened and closed for clamping artificial hair 30 that has been removedfrom movable guide 43 and artificial hair supplying nozzle 37, which isdriven by a motor 46 to rotate like a pendulum to describe an arc onhorizontal plane of base 11. A reference numeral 43 a indicates a motorfor reciprocating movable guide 43 on a horizontal plane, which drivesmovable guide 43 via a lever 43 b connected to a motor shaft and aconnector plate 43 c. Press means 44 comprises a movable member 44 adriven by a motor 44 c to be opened and closed, and a stationaryreceiving member 44 b, between which artificial hair 30 is clamped fromopposite sides. Press means 45 comprises members 45 a, 45 b that aremoved up and down in synchronism with movement of movable member 44 a toclamp artificial hair 30 therebetween. A reference numeral 47 indicatesa motor for swinging head 42, including press means 44, about its axistoward needle 41. A reference numeral 48 a indicates a sensor fordetecting a swinging rotational angle of head 42, which comprises anencoder. A reference numeral 48 b indicates a sensor for detecting anaxial rotational angle of the press means 44, which comprises anencoder. A reference numeral 49 a indicates a motor for reciprocatingthe needle 41, and a reference numeral 49 b indicates a motor operablein synchronism with motor 47 to axially rotate needle 41. In FIG. 6,artificial hair 30 is transferred in an arrowed direction (in adirection of X-axis) with respect to base 11.

FIG. 9 shows a hair-blowing unit 5 in hair-transplanting unit 4. Moreparticularly, just below the transplanted artificial hair 30 is arrangeda chain conveyor 51 that rotates clockwise, and conveyor 51 is providedwith a plurality of raking bars 52. A holding bar 53 is suitablyseparated from the transplanted artificial hairs 30. Conveyor 51 isdriven to rotate at a predetermined time interval so that raking bars 52rake the transplanted artificial hairs 30 to right, which are then heldby holding bar 53. This assures that next hair-transplanting operationmay be done with no obstacles on an area to be hair-transplanted.

Shown in FIG. 16 is an electrostatic valve (three position, closedcenter double solenoid) 39 a that is linked with an air compressor 39 toactuate vacuum generators 32, 33.

Next, operation of the automated hair-transplanting apparatus for wigmanufacturing will be described in reference to FIG. 10 through FIG. 15.A slack T1 is first given between sheet feeding rollers 27 and tensionnip rollers 24, 25 (FIG. 10(A)), and discharge roller 28 is driven torotate to feed base 11 (FIG. 10(B)). Up to this time, tension niprollers 24, 25 remains opened. Next, tension nip rollers 24, 25 areclosed to hold the supplied base 11 therebetween, thereby againproviding a slack T1 between sheet feeding rollers 27 and tension niprollers 24, 25 (FIG. 10(C)). Then, sheet discharging rollers 28 aredriven to rotate in a reverse direction to provide another slack T2between tension nip rollers 24, 25 and sheet discharging rollers 28(FIG. 10(D)). The total amount of the slacks T1 and T2 thus given shouldbe enough to move conveyor table 21. The hatched portion of sheet slacksensor 29 in FIG. 10 indicates a detectable area. Base 11 is transferredfrom left to right.

Base 11 thus fed is nipped from top and bottom between tension niprollers 24, 25 to become stretched on conveyor table 21 (see FIG. 4).Then, predetermined data designating a pitch of hair-transplantation,coloring of artificial hairs 30, etc. are read out by control meanscomprising a computer, not shown, according to which hair-transplantingprocess will start. The color scheme of artificial hairs 30 isdetermined in advance as a combination of 50% of the hair from bobbin31A, 30% from bobbin 31B, 15% from bobbin 31C and 5% from bobbin 31D,for example.

Prior to the hair-transplanting process, artificial hairs 30 have beensupplied to above base 11. Supply of artificial hair 30 is carried outby vacuum generators 32, 33 that are driven in response to a commandfrom the control means to absorb by vacuum the thread. Morespecifically, when artificial hair 30 of “A” color is to be selected,ports “1-A” and “2-A” of electromagnetic valve 39 a (shown in FIG. 16)in vacuum generator 32 are turned on, and a motor for bobbin 31A isturned on. When artificial hair 30 of “B” color is to be selected, ports“1-B” and “2-B” of electromagnetic valve 39 a are turned on, and a motorfor bobbin 31B is turned on. When artificial hair 30 of “C” color shouldbe selected, ports “3-A” and “4-A” of electromagnetic valve 39 a areturned on, and a motor for bobbin 31C is turned on. When artificial hair30 of “D” color is to be selected, ports “3-B” and “4-B” ofelectromagnetic valve 39 a are turned on, and a motor for bobbin 31D isturned on. When a thread sensor (not shown) comprising a photoelectrictube, for example, detects that the artificial hair 30 reaches apredetermined length, cutter 34 become operative to cut artificial hair30 to a predetermined length. The artificial hair segment 30 thus cut issupplied to above base 11.

Then, artificial hair 30 is transplanted. First, movable guide 43 ismoved to right to be connected with artificial hair supply nozzle 37(FIG. 11(A)). At this time, press means 44, 45 remain opened. Whenartificial hair 30 is inserted into movable guide 43 (FIG. 11(B)),movable guide 43 is moved to left to separate from artificial hairsupply nozzle 37 (FIG. 11(C)). Then, press means 44, 45 are closedsubstantially at the same time to hold artificial hair 30 into ahorizontal orientation. While artificial hair 30 is temporarily fixed insuch a manner, head 42 is driven by motor 47 to rotate about its axis.At the same time, needle 41 is driven by motor 49 b in synchronism withmotor 47 to rotate about its axis. Then, needle 41 moves upward. Whileartificial hair 30 is temporarily fixed by press means 44, 45, head 42is driven by motor 46 to rotate as a pendulum toward needles 41 todescribe an arc on the plane of base 11, and artificial hair 30 isforced against needle 41 (FIG. 11(D)), and then needle 41 moves down. Anangle of this pendulum rotational movement of head 42 is determined inadvance, which is detected by sensor 48 a. During descent of needle 41,artificial hair 30 goes into engaging portion 41 c of needle 41 and,therefore, artificial hair 30 is pulled out by needle 41 to below base11. At this time, press means 44, 45 remain opened. Conveyor 51 isdriven to rotate at a predetermined time interval, and the transplantedartificial hair 30 is raked to right by raking bars 53. This assuresthat next hair-transplanting operation may work well with no obstacleson the underside to be hair-transplanted. Transplantation of artificialhair 30 onto base 11 may be done at a predetermined travel pitch of 1mm, for example, in a predetermined order, after conveyor table 21 hasbeen moved in a direction of Y-axis (shown in FIG. 14) that isperpendicular to the direction of supply of artificial hair 30 (X-axis)or it has been moved in a direction of X-axis. By this, artificial hair30 may be transplanted onto base 11 at a desired transplanting pitch P,P′. The transplanting pitch P. P′, that is a spacing between artificialhairs 30, depends on the predetermined travel pitch of conveyor table21. The transplanting pitch P, P′ may not be constant in X-axis andY-axis directions where conveyor table 21 make a turn, for example. Yet,this may rather provide a favorable condition comparable with thenatural condition.

After completing the hair-transplantation in the above-described manner,the stretched condition of base 11 is released, and sheet-dischargingrollers 28 are rotated to discharge the completed base 11 a (FIG.15(A)). Next, the base feeding process is again carried out in theafore-mentioned manner to feed a plane 11 b as a new base 11 to behair-transplanted (FIG. 15(B)).

The respective parts, described above, will be controlled by controlmeans comprising a computer, not shown.

The hair-transplanting process will now be described in more detail.Because needle 41 has a leading end portion 41 a shaped into anequilateral triangular pyramid, and there are edge(s) 41 b on aperiphery of leading end portion 41 a, when needle 41 is to go throughbase 11, it will smoothly pierce base 11 without forcing base upward,resulting in substantially no vibration of needle 41.

Because engaging portion 41 c of needle 41 for engaging artificial hair30 has tongue 41 e of a diameter smaller than guide surface 41 f, tongue41 e will not get caught, during its descending movement, by the hem ofa hole which has been formed by the ascending needle. Accordingly,needle will smoothly move down while artificial hair 30 is engaged andheld in recess 41 d.

Needle 41 is supported at two points, that is an upper point and a lowerend point, by needle holders 41 g, 41 h. This is also contributable topreventing wobbling of needle 41.

As to the hooking of artificial hair 30, artificial hair 30 first makescontact with guide surface 41 f, and then is guided along guide surface41 f to reach and is retained in recess 41 d where guide surface 41 fterminates. Artificial hair 30 engaged by recess 41 d is subjected tothe hooking after its opposite ends are cut away. At this time, theopposite end portions is not supported by artificial hair supply nozzle37 and movable guide 43 and, therefore, needle 41 could move slightlydue to some reason. However, since engaging portion 41 c is providedjust beneath leading end portion 41 a and recess 41 d is recessed in anaxial direction, artificial hair 30 may be caught surely within recess41 d. Further, tongue 41 e projects downward to cover recess 41 d sothat artificial hair 30 may be surely engaged by needle 41 without sway.

Accordingly, artificial hair 30 will be hooked surely.

Further, relative movement of needle 41 may be achieved at a pitch orwidth of high accuracy.

Accordingly, it becomes possible that the transplanting pitch of theartificial hair in automated wig manufacturing is controlled with highaccuracy to be as equal to the human hair spacing, thereby reducing apercentage of production of defective articles when automaticallymanufacturing wigs. FIG. 2 also shows an example of application whereinbase 11 with artificial hair 30 transplanted thereonto is formed into athree-dimensional one. More particularly, the discharged base 11 is nextsubjected to a first adhesive applying process B. Here, a first glueapplicator 6 provides first glue 61 for securing the artificial hairs 30that have been transplanted onto the top surface of base 11. Morespecifically, first glue applicator 6 comprises a tank 62, first glue 61in tank 62, and a nozzle device 63 driven by air compressor 39 to jetfirst glue 61. At the hair-transplanting process A, it jets first glue61 toward the base end portions 30 a (shown in FIG. 9) of artificialhairs 30 remaining on the top surface of base 11 onto which artificialhairs 30 have been transplanted, thereby securing the base end portions30 a onto base 11. First glue 61 is of a quick-drying nature andcontains a hardening agent for bearing heat and pressure applied at aforming process D to be described later.

Then, a cutting process C will be carried out. Here, base 11 to whichfirst glue 61 has been applied is cut, by a cutter unit 7 comprising acutter device 71, into a predetermined shape.

Then, the forming process D will be carried out. Here, base 11 thus cutby a forming unit 8 is subjected to heat and pressure to be formed intoa predetermined shape. Forming unit 8 has, for example, athree-dimensional forming cavity 81 corresponding to a head size, andbase 11 is transformed in conformity to forming cavity 81.

Then, a second adhesive applying process E will be carried out. Here, asecond glue applicator 9 applies a second glue 91 onto the top surfaceof base 11. More specifically, second glue applicator 9 comprises a tank92, second glue 91 in tank 92, and a nozzle device 93 driven by aircompressor 39 to jet second glue 91. It jets second glue 91 onto firstglue 61 that has been hardened, to form an adhesive layer (not shown) ofthe wig. Second glue 91 is of an adhesive nature that is fittable to thehuman skin, which may be one for medical use. Thus, the wig iscompletely manufactured and may be directly attached to the head.

The present invention is not limited to the embodiments that have beendescribed hereinabove and should be understood to have variousvariations and modifications without departing from the spirits andscope of the invention defined in the appended claims. For example, theshape of leading end portion 41 a of needle 41 is optional, which may beanother triangular pyramid or a polyangular pyramid with four edges 41 bwherein edges may be formed along the respective ridges. It may be aconical one as shown in FIG. 17.

Direction of movement of needle 41 is optional. For example, needle 41may be movable downward or movable rightward and leftward. In the formercase, engaging portion 41 c should be provided as an upward projectionjust above leading end portion 41 a.

The number of edges 41 b mounted on leading end portion 41 a of needle41 is optional, which may be two or four or more. Rather than providingplural edges, there may be only one radially extending edge as shown inFIG. 17.

The spacing between the respective edges may differ.

The shape of edges 41 b is optional, which may be a screw-type one suchas shown in FIG. 18.

In application to an automated hair-transplanting apparatus for wigmanufacturing, the number of needles 41 is optional.

Needle 41 may be made from any desired material. Any material whichprovides necessary strength and is well resistant to bent and abrasionmay be used.

The wig manufacturing apparatus and the wig manufacturing process towhich the wig-manufacturing needle according to the present invention isapplicable may be changed as desired. For example, as to the hooking ofartificial hair 30, the opposite ends of artificial hair 30 may besupported continuously until it becomes hooked by recess 41 d of needle41.

It may be possible that needle 41 is a stationary member whereas base 11is a vertically reciprocatable one.

The post-treatment following the hair-transplanting process is notlimited to the above-described example, which may not involve theforming process and/or the cutting process.

The hair segment to be transplanted may be made from any desiredmaterial. This includes synthetic fiber, natural fiber, animal material,etc.

INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY

The needle for manufacturing a wig according to the present inventionwill be useful in automation of wig manufacturing.

1. A needle for manufacturing a wig, said needle to be used in an automated hair-transplanting apparatus for manufacturing a wig, said needle being extremely fine in its lengthwise direction and having a gimlet-shaped leading end portion provided with edge(s) on a periphery thereof and with an engaging portion at a base thereof, wherein there is a tapered guide surface extending from said engaging portion toward another end opposite to said leading end portion, said guide surface continuing straight from a point on a periphery of the needle to the recess of said engaging portion, said needle comprising a pair of needles of the same shape which vertically move together with respect to a base.
 2. A wig-manufacturing needle according to claim 1 wherein said engaging portion comprises a recess and a tongue covering said recess.
 3. (canceled)
 4. A wig-manufacturing needle according to claim 2 wherein said recess is recessed in an axial direction of said needle.
 5. A wig-manufacturing needle according to claim 1, wherein said tongue has a diameter smaller than the maximum diameter of said guide surface.
 6. A wig-manufacturing needle according to claim 1 wherein said leading end portion is shaped like a polyangular pyramid.
 7. A wig-manufacturing needle according to claim 6, wherein said leading end portion is shaped like a triangular pyramid.
 8. A wig-manufacturing needle according to claim 1 wherein said leading end portion is shaped like a cone.
 9. A wig-manufacturing needle according to claim 1 wherein there is a plurality of said edges.
 10. A wig-manufacturing needle according to claim 1 wherein the number of said edges is three.
 11. A wig-manufacturing needle according to claim 1 wherein the number of said edge is one.
 12. A wig-manufacturing needle according to claim 9 wherein said edges are equally spaced with each other.
 13. A wig-manufacturing needle according to claim 1 wherein said edge extends straight.
 14. A wig-manufacturing needle according to claim 1 wherein said edge is a screw-like one.
 15. A wig-manufacturing needle according to claim 1 wherein said needle comprises a needle pair.
 16. A wig-manufacturing needle according to claim 1 wherein said needle is supported at two points.
 17. A wig-manufacturing needle according to claim 1 wherein said needle is positioned below a base supplied to said automated hair-transplanting apparatus for wig manufacturing, wherein said needle cooperates with a head positioned above said needle to constitute a hair-transplanting unit of said automated hair-transplanting apparatus for wig manufacturing.
 18. A wig-manufacturing needle according to claim 1 wherein said needle is vertically reciprocatable.
 19. A wig-manufacturing needle according to claim 1 wherein said needle is stationary, whereas said base is vertically reciprocatable. 